Wichita eagle., 1887-04-12
WICHITA AND THE STAR OF EMPIRE.
Observations and Conclusions Of Dis
interested Traveller.

Observations and Conclusions Of a Dis
interested Traveller.
| To the Editor Of the Ally Eagle.
Dear Sir-Having spent week in Wich-
ita. l am compelled to say that it is un-
mistakably the city of the southwest. /
say this not for the purpose of seeing any
production Of mine in print, or for the
purpose Of booming any real estate OF
which might be the possessor, for its ap-
pearing In print is far from probable, and
of real estate l am not fortunate enough to
be the holder. Standing on her street
cornsrs, watching the moving mass OF hu-
manity, or going to her depots and noting
the constant stream of immigration, a
spcctatator is led to full realization of
the fact, so hard for the majority OF east
ern people to realize, that westward the
course of empire takes its way" Wichita
has become the Mecca of every follower Of
the advice: Go west, young man." Had
Horace Greely's advice been expressed
thus: Go to Wichita young man, there
would have been built, as a monument to
his sagacity and foresight. city which
in growth and progress stands first
without second, which has no parallel in
the history of the growth and progress of
western cities. The fact that five thousand
houses are, or will shortly be in process OF
erection, is in itself one Of the most sub
stantial evidences of progress. Yes, Wich-
ita is great city! Great nj the possession
Of an enterprlsing people; Of streets. natur-
ally among the most beautiful in the world;
of railroads constructed, and in process of
construction, affording almost unsurpassed
commercial facilities; in short, great in
those things, although comparatively in
their infancy, but which in their full de-
velopment will combine to make her the
greatest Of progressive western cities 1t
is said that Wichita will become a great
distributing center; q center from which
shall be shipped large amounts of agricul-
tural and manufactured products. But
more than this From her churches, free
schools and colleges there shall go forth a
stream of knowledge, shedding their
refining influence on her citizens.
Illuminating their understandings, broaden
ing their comprehensions, balancing their
judgments, and making them foremost by
culture, foremost by character, and fore
most by example in the ranks of true
American citizenship. have been, at diff
ferent times and places, involved in discus
sions concerning the pronunciation of the
word-Wichta. The difficulty seems to
be in the pronunciation of the "ch." The
regular English pronunciation Of this
digraph is ZACH" or 'fash, as in charter,
chair, etc. The French sound of it is ''sh"
as in chaise. In words derived from an
cient languages "ch" is generally hard like
'k", as in character. anchor and chemis
try. Now if this English rule is correct,
and if Wichita is not of English origin,
them the logical conclusion would be that
Wichita is not correct; and If not French,
then Wishita is not correct. | think it is
not derived from any of the ancient Ian
guases. If that is SO, then the pronuncia-
ton is not Wikita Wichita, it is said, is
an Indian name. Perhaps the rule applica
bleto ancient languages will also apply to
dialects. We would like to have your
opinion in this matter as the editor of the rep
resentative paper Of the city, with the view
of restoring to its primitive purity the mu-
tiated pronunciation of the word. That |
is. if it is to retain its primitive pronuncia-
ton. Our opinion is that the word though !
of Indian origin, has been adopted into the
English language and has become part of
it. Therefore subject to all its rules Of
JAMES G. ELLIOTT,
Palmyra, Pa.
The name is identical with that Of the
parish in Louisiana, Ouichita. 1t is pro-
nounced Oowish ee-tah, or Wish e-tah. not
Witch -e-taw, nor Witch-itaw. nor Witch
l-ED EAGLE.